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I'd like to switch to !GoDaddy, and Namecheap seems popular. Are there any useful pro/cons I should know about Namecheap before switching?

DodgyEggplant 15y ago
Tried to read their Terms of Service, long as hell
pork 15y ago
Switched over after the elephant cull, haven't regretted it at all. Clean interface, and very easy flow for new domains. Only gripe is that they don't have a mobile site.
- miles_matthias 15y ago
  Or a mobile app like godaddy does? I like searching for available domains on my phone sometimes and godaddy's app does that well. Does anyone know of any alternative iPhone apps for searching for available domains?
  - mitchellhislop 15y ago
    Check out domize.com - great interface, tells you quickly whats available. You can set it to use namecheap as your default registrar, so clicking on one takes you right there. Works really well, but only for searching.
    - miles_matthias 15y ago
      Cool thanks. Sounds like it's exactly what I need.
rubyrescue 15y ago
i've also used dynadot which i like a lot. They have a pretty useful API, and good customer service. However, their pricing is only as good as namecheap if you spend more than $500 USD/year on domains.
pwaring 15y ago
I've never had a problem using Namecheap, their support tickets tend to be answered quickly and their prices are reasonable. They also used to charge $17.76 for a two year .uk domain registration, which was amusing.
kolektiv 15y ago
I've always used them, and they've been flawless for me. Not "amazing service", but "I haven't needed any service" because everything just worked properly. From what I hear they are responsive when you need them as well. I'd recommend them.
rhizome 15y ago
One con is that unlike Joker and Gandi (and surely others), Namecheap is located in Los Angeles, CA and is therefore subject to US court judgements, US Internet policy, and US privacy laws (or lack thereof).
- regularfry 15y ago
  Isn't part of the whole current kerfuffle that the DoJ considers any Verisign tld under US jurisdiction?
  - Natsu 15y ago
    And wants a Great Firewall of America to block the sites which aren't under our jurisdiction....
    - rhizome 15y ago
      Sure, but why make it easy for them and keep the domains under US jurisdiction where they don't even have to go to GFA lengths? Why keep your domain in a country with poor-to-nonexistent privacy laws?
      - Natsu 15y ago
        No argument here! Just pointing out that they've got that covered, even if they obviously haven't thought it through.
benmccann 15y ago
I've used GoDaddy in the past and was frustrated by their interface. Namecheap's is much better. Also, I've gotten $2 SSL certs and very cheap private domain registration from them as well.
cdr 15y ago
NameCheap "doesn't support SOPA", but they're capitalizing on GoDaddy's missteps more than having any firm moral objection to SOPA. Their opposition to SOPA is very qualified, they publicly say they support new IP legislation, and they may well support whatever comes after SOPA. I use gandi.net personally - Gandi has long supported internet freedom and is based outside of the US.
- micro-ram 15y ago
  Yes, but as stated above Gandi is just a reseller of .COM & .NET gTLD's from Verisign which is still US based.
dangrossman 15y ago
Pro: They've refused to disable domains or turn over private WHOIS data to lawyers representing trademark holders and celebrities. GoDaddy's standard response to an abuse complaint is to yank the domain same day, Namecheap's is to say "get a court order or GTFO". Con: Transfers are absurdly slow. It took 'em 5-6 hours to initiate the transfer after I ordered. I approved the transfer on both ends instantly. Within the hour the root registry showed the domains moved to Namecheap/enom ownership. 12 hours later, Namecheap still shows everything as pending in their interface. That means I have no management of my own domains -- if I needed to change nameservers or such I'm SOL.

DodgyEggplant 15y ago

Tried to read their Terms of Service, long as hell

pork 15y ago

Switched over after the elephant cull, haven't regretted it at all. Clean interface, and very easy flow for new domains. Only gripe is that they don't have a mobile site.

miles_matthias 15y ago
Or a mobile app like godaddy does? I like searching for available domains on my phone sometimes and godaddy's app does that well. Does anyone know of any alternative iPhone apps for searching for available domains?
- mitchellhislop 15y ago
  Check out domize.com - great interface, tells you quickly whats available. You can set it to use namecheap as your default registrar, so clicking on one takes you right there. Works really well, but only for searching.
  - miles_matthias 15y ago
    Cool thanks. Sounds like it's exactly what I need.

rubyrescue 15y ago

i've also used dynadot which i like a lot. They have a pretty useful API, and good customer service. However, their pricing is only as good as namecheap if you spend more than $500 USD/year on domains.

pwaring 15y ago

I've never had a problem using Namecheap, their support tickets tend to be answered quickly and their prices are reasonable. They also used to charge $17.76 for a two year .uk domain registration, which was amusing.

kolektiv 15y ago

I've always used them, and they've been flawless for me. Not "amazing service", but "I haven't needed any service" because everything just worked properly. From what I hear they are responsive when you need them as well. I'd recommend them.

rhizome 15y ago

One con is that unlike Joker and Gandi (and surely others), Namecheap is located in Los Angeles, CA and is therefore subject to US court judgements, US Internet policy, and US privacy laws (or lack thereof).

regularfry 15y ago
Isn't part of the whole current kerfuffle that the DoJ considers any Verisign tld under US jurisdiction?
- Natsu 15y ago
  And wants a Great Firewall of America to block the sites which aren't under our jurisdiction....
  - rhizome 15y ago
    Sure, but why make it easy for them and keep the domains under US jurisdiction where they don't even have to go to GFA lengths? Why keep your domain in a country with poor-to-nonexistent privacy laws?
    - Natsu 15y ago
      No argument here! Just pointing out that they've got that covered, even if they obviously haven't thought it through.

benmccann 15y ago

I've used GoDaddy in the past and was frustrated by their interface. Namecheap's is much better. Also, I've gotten $2 SSL certs and very cheap private domain registration from them as well.

cdr 15y ago

NameCheap "doesn't support SOPA", but they're capitalizing on GoDaddy's missteps more than having any firm moral objection to SOPA. Their opposition to SOPA is very qualified, they publicly say they support new IP legislation, and they may well support whatever comes after SOPA. I use gandi.net personally - Gandi has long supported internet freedom and is based outside of the US.

micro-ram 15y ago
Yes, but as stated above Gandi is just a reseller of .COM & .NET gTLD's from Verisign which is still US based.

dangrossman 15y ago

Pro: They've refused to disable domains or turn over private WHOIS data to lawyers representing trademark holders and celebrities. GoDaddy's standard response to an abuse complaint is to yank the domain same day, Namecheap's is to say "get a court order or GTFO". Con: Transfers are absurdly slow. It took 'em 5-6 hours to initiate the transfer after I ordered. I approved the transfer on both ends instantly. Within the hour the root registry showed the domains moved to Namecheap/enom ownership. 12 hours later, Namecheap still shows everything as pending in their interface. That means I have no management of my own domains -- if I needed to change nameservers or such I'm SOL.